Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim speaks at a Hari Raya celebration organised by the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) and attended by about 400 guests, on Sunday, Aug 24, 2014, at the Canberra Community Club. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh

SINGAPORE - The Malay/Muslim community will head fund-raising efforts for the new Yusof Ishak Professorship in Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech.

A Singapore50 (SG50) coordination committee formed to organise projects to celebrate the nation's 50th anniversary next year will lead the national fund-raising initiative, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim at a Hari Raya lunch he hosted on Tuesday.

The commitee, headed by Suara Musyawarah chairman Haji Sallim Abdul Kadir, aims to raise about $6m for the professorship, inclusive of a matching government grant of up to 1.5 times the donated sum.

This, said Dr Yaacob, is a way for the Malay/Muslim community to give back to the nation.